Iran's FM says U.S. cannot restore pre-2015 sanctions

Mohammad Javad Zarif

TEHRAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian foreign minister said on Saturday that the United States will not be able to restore pre-2015 sanctions against Iran in its unilateral attempt in the UN Security Council.

The United States lost its authority pertaining to any action in the Iranian 2015 nuclear deal when it withdrew from the accord in 2018 unilaterally, Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a televised speech.

The U.S. officials themselves are well aware that their attempt is "void," but they are resorting to "bullying" policies in international relations, he said.

Zarif was alluding to the recent remarks of the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who said Wednesday that "we will return to the United Nations to reimpose sanctions so that the arms embargo will become permanent next week."

U.S. President Donald Trump administration has sought to invoke the "snapback" mechanism to restore all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran after its failed attempt in the UN Security Council to extend the arms embargo against Tehran.